Space Burial: The Final Frontier
What if you could spend all of eternity in outer space? Every time your loved ones looked up, no matter where they were in the world, they could know that you were up there with the stars.
Space Burial is no longer something from movies or TV like in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where Captain Kirk leads the emotional memorial service for Spock aboard the Starship Enterprise. Instead, it's a reality that is available to anyone who wants a burial in space.
How does it work?
A space burial with Celestis involves launching the cremated remains of your loved one on a rocket that's headed into space. For many who have a fascination with space, the idea of a final voyage into the great beyond, to have a burial that is permanently exploring the cosmos, is one of the most authentic ways to honor a life devoted to adventure, exploration, and cosmic awareness. There are multiple options to choose from, and the dedicated team at Celestis can help you pre-plan or assist your loved ones through the process of ensuring you have a spot among the stars for all eternity.
Planning
Once you've decided that a Celestis Memorial Flight is the right choice for your space burial service, you'll want to contact the launch team at Celestis to discuss options for the journey.
There are multiple choices for the final destination, and consideration of launch date and availability will impact which is the best flight for you.
After you've selected the launch date, Celestis will handle all the details to ensure that your loved one is aboard the rocket. You'll have a permanent virtual memorial within the Celestis digital footprint, an engraved capsule for the remains aboard the flight, and a message of dedication that will accompany the remains into space.
Celestis will also take care of the balance of remains. The unflown balance of cremated remains provided in the flight kit/Transfer Vial will be scattered near the launch site or at sea by a licensed funeral director.
Launch Experience
There are three days of memorial celebrations around the launch of the rocket. The festivities include a hosted reception, launchpad tour, and, of course, live viewing of the launch.
For those that are not able to attend in person, a live broadcast of the launch is available so that friends and family of the deceased can tune in from around the globe to pay tribute.
After Launch
You will receive a professionally captured and produced video of the launch and associated events to keep in your video archive. A launch certificate and mission patch are also included, along with several other options for memorial spaceflight memorabilia.
Who is it for?
Space Enthusiasts
Sometimes, our life's work lines up with our life's passion. Who could forget James Doohan's character Scotty on Star Trek? When Mr. Doohan passed in 2005, it was announced that he wanted his remains flown to the final frontier. His wife, Wende, shared this:
"Jimmy absolutely adored playing the role of Scotty on Star Trek. He promoted space exploration and travel wherever he went. He would have given almost anything to be able to actually go into space. When asked if he would ever ride the Space Shuttle, with a twinkle in his eye, he replied, "In a heartbeat!"
Fulfilling a dream to go to space "in real life" is made possible by the Space Burial options at Celestis.
Scientists
Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, a pioneer in the exploration of the Solar System, had longed to go to the Moon as an Apollo astronaut and study its geology firsthand. Unfortunately, a medical condition diagnosed in the early 1960s prevented him from doing so. He had said, "Not going to the Moon and banging on it with my own hammer has been the biggest disappointment in life." His Celestis Space Burial finally fulfilled a lifelong dream when his remains were on the first Lunar Mission. The spacecraft impacted the lunar surface inside a permanently shadowed crater near the south lunar pole, creating a permanent monument to Dr. Shoemaker.
Couples
The family of Majel and Gene Roddenberry decided to send their remains on the same Space Memorial Flight into deep space. Gene was an award-winning writer and producer best known for creating the 1960s TV series Star Trek®. His wife, Majel, an actress, writer and executive producer, was best known for her roles as Nurse Chapel in the original Star Trek television series and as Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as providing the voice for the computer of the Starship Enterprise. Their love of space and vision of the future is captured in their life's work. Now, their memory and remains boldly go into the stars to continue to inspire for generations to come.
Why Choose A Space Burial?
If you have someone in your life that has had a lifelong fascination with the cosmos and has always wanted to travel space, a Celestis Space Burial is a uniquely compelling memorial. In addition to the dream fulfilled of space travel, there are several practical benefits to considering a Celestis Memorial Space Flight as a commemoration of love.
Space Burials are environmentally benign in that they have no significant environmental impact, unlike a traditional burial that involves preserving chemicals and frequently a non-biodegradable casket. Therefore, as we search to find eco-friendly ways to handle the remains of our loved ones, the option of space should be considered an environmentally-conscious option.
Space burials with Celestis are easy to arrange with a team of caring experts to help you and your family make final arrangements. The solace of knowing that professionals are handling a space burial makes the bereavement easier to bear because all the details about the event will be handled. As a bonus, it's an option that is surprisingly affordable compared to a traditional burial which means you'll be able to fulfill a dream of a lifetime on a reasonable budget.
Finally, Celestis Space Burials are authorized by US government regulations and in compliance with international law, which means you will have peace of mind during one of life's most difficult seasons.
Space Burials are no longer something that only exists in the imaginations of screenwriters. Instead, people from all walks of life can participate in a Celestis Space Memorial flight and know that their remains will be among the stars for generations to come.
